Link trimming and fuse sizing mechanism



Feb. 28, l1939. E. H. TAYLOR l' 2,148,591

LINK TRMMING AND FUSE STZTNG MECHANTSM Filed Feb. 14, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 28, 1939. E H. TAYLOR 2,148,591

LINK TRIMMING AND FUSE SIZNG MECHANTSM Filed Feb. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .iL/f

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Y Patented Feb. 28, 1939 PATENT OFFICE LINK TRIMMING AND FUSE sIzING MECHANISM Elmer H. Taylor, Newburyport, Mass., assignor to The Chase-Shawmut Company, Newburyport,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 14, 1936, ySerial No. 63,908

25 Claims.

r`'I'hisiinvention relatesto the. manufacture of electric fuses of the cartridge type and has particular reference to mechanism for preparingthe endof the fusiblelink for the soldering thereof 5x, to anfend cap.

The-electric fusewith which the manufacture of this:invention-is'particularly concernedv comprisesa tubularfenclosing casing of suitable insulatingmate'rial, as fibre, having metalterminal m: capson theends of rthe casing, a fusible element or linkrextendedlengthwise within the casing and soldered'rtothe end caps, and a loose ller of electrically insulating arc-quenching material in the A casing, around the fuse link. The end walls o-f l5; theendcaps or at leasto-ne end cap is provided Witha recess or depression in which the end ci the fuse'linkis adapted to be terminated, ,the depression receivingthe bent-over end ofthe link andthe solder which bondsthe link to the end cap;

Inthe manufacture of the fuse the partly assembledxfuseV at one stageV of its manufacture consstszof'the'casing with theend caps thereon, the filler within the casing and the fuse link 25 Vsolderedtol oneend .cap and projecting through the other end'cap and to a distance therebeyond that isgreater than is required for bending it at rightangles to the body of the link within lthe casing and'disposing it within the recess of the endcap` in condition to receive the solder.

It is` an object of the present invention to provide mechanism automaticallyI operative upon a succession of such fuses to trim off excess lengths ontheY projecting ends of the fusible links all substantially to the samev amount and to bend over thefshorter projecting ends finto the Arecesses i in; the-end caps thereby to conditionthe links andthe endzcaps rto'n-fceivev the solder.

.It isalso an object ofthe present invention to 4A)` provide means for exerting endwise pressure on the fuse whereby to force the end caps firmly upon the insulating casing so that the over-all length of all of the succession of fusesfis substantially the same, said` means preferably also servingy to disposethe similar ends of all fuses in thesame plane to receive -a further manufacturing operation upon them. f

'Another object is generally toimprove the construction' and operationk of fuse manufacturing mechanisms.

Fig. 1 isa perspective detail'of a fusey link trimming and bendingmechanism embodying the y present invention. y y

Fig. 2 is aplan'v view of the trimming mechaas. nismtaken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken in front of the trimming and pressing mechanismof Fig. 1, the fuse carrier being removed.

Fig. 4.is asection taken along line 4--6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an'elevation partly in section of the fuse subsequent the snipping operation but prior to the bending. and pressing operation.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating the manner in which the end of the fuse is bent into the end cap recess.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of the bending and pressing plunger taken along line 'I-l of `Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional elevation of the shear holding plunger taken along line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

'I'he trimming, bending and pressing mechanism embodying the present invention includes an intermittently advanceable fuse carrier I having aplurality of equally spaced fuse holders, eachzholder comprising a stationary jaw I2 and a pivoted jaw I4. Each pair of jaws is adapted togrip a fuse casing'therebetween, as illustrated in Fig. l,- all of the casings being. vertically extended. The jaws have rearwardly extended tails I6v and I8, respectively, between which a compression spring v2li is disposed, which spring exerts pressure in` opposite directions on the tails to maintain the jaws in releasable engagement with the fusev casings. The carrier I0 and the jaws with the casings therein are advanced intermittently in'a'step-by step manner into andout of positions where the excessive projecting lengths of the fuse links are trimmed oil so that the links are all the same length and the ends of the links are'bent to receive the solder.

Each of the fuses advanced by the carrier comprises a tubular enclosing casing 22 of insulating material, as fibre, see Figs. 1, and 6, having metal end caps 24' and 26 on the ends thereof. Theend' cap'26 is usually crimped permanently onto the casing prior to its presentation to the mechanism of the present invention. The end cap 24, however, is loosely applied to the casing. 'Ihe casing contains a filler 28 of an electrically insulating arc-quenching material. A fusible element or fuse link 3D extends longitudinally within the casing and has its lower end soldered to the end cap 26 and its upper end 30a, see Fig. 1, extended. outwardly of the end cap to a distance which is in excessto that required to solder the fuse linkto -the end cap. The end wall of the end cap is provided with a recess or depression 32 therein and the bottom of the recess is provided with an aperture 34 through which the fuse link extends.

The excess projecting end 30a of the fuse link is adapted to be trimmed off to a shorter projecting length 88h, see Fig. 5, and this projecting end is adapted to be bent substantially at right angles to the b ody of the fuse and into the bottom of the recess 32, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and thereby be in position to receive a mass of solder which is introduced into the recess to bond the bent end of the link and the end cap securely together.

The carrier I advances the fuses with their projecting link ends uppermost onto and over a stationarily supported anvil'38, the anvil standing preferably at such height that each off the fuses as it passes over the inclined leading edge 38a of the anvil is caused to be moved upwardly slightly within the gripping jaws of the carrier so as to insure that all fuses will stand at the same height relatively to the trimming and bending and pressing mechanism.

Said mechanism includes a slide plate 38 which is vertically reciprocable on and between vertical guide rods 4|] which are fixed in a base plate 42 secured to a bed 44. Collars 4B are secured to said guide rods 4D beneath said plate 31B and compression springs 48 encircle said rods and rest upon said collars and also bear against the lower edge of said plate to raise it following the lowering thereof. A connecting rod 58 is secured to the lower end of said plate 38 and extends downwardly therebelow and has intermediate its ends a length adjusting means 52 by the adjustment of which the maximum elevation of said plate with respect to the fuses may be altered. The lower end of said connecting rod is pivotally connected to the intermediate end lof a vertically reciprocable lever 54, one end of which is pivotally supported by a bracket 56 and the other end of which carries a cam roller 58 that rides upon a Cam 88 fixed to a continuously rotating shaft 62, the rotation of which is in timed relation `to the movements of the carrier I0. The shape of the cam 88 is such that the slide plate 38 is caused to be moved downwardly and held for a substantial length of time stationary in its lowermost position, during which time the operation of trimming the excess projecting length of fuse element takes place.

The fuse engaging parts of the mechanism are carried by a bracket 54 attached to the inner face of the slide plate 38 by bolts 66 and having at its lower end a horizontal inwardly projecting shelf 68 which carries and supports the fuse engaging elements.

The link trimming mechanism includes a pair of shears or scissors having cooperating cutting blades 12, 14 pivotally connected by a pivot screw 78 and having handles 18, 8!) extended on opposite sides of the pivot screw and normally pressed apart to maintain the cutting blades separated by a compression spring 82 disposed between and bearing against the handles. The scissors are maintained horizontally upon the bottom end of a vertical rod 84, the pivot screw 'i8 extending into an axially directed recess 86 of the rod, see Fig. 8, and retained removably therein by a set screw 88. The rod 84 is carried by the shelf 88 and is vertically movable therein and is also free for angular movement. The height of the scissors is adjusted by nuts 98 that are screwthreaded on the upper end of the rod and bear upon the shelf to limit the low position of the scissors. The position of the blades of the scissors is such that they are above the'projecting fuse link and descend upon opposite sides of the link so that the link is between them and in position to be severed by the blades.

The scissors are moved together and allowed to separate under the action of the spring 82 by means including a horizontal disc 92 supported at the upper end of a bracket 94. The disc is provided with a pair of upstanding pins 96, 98 between which the handles 18, 88 of the scissors are disposed and against which they bear. The disc 82 is adapted to be oscillated between full and dotted line positions, as illustrated in Fig. 2, whereby to close the scissors and permit the spring 82 to open the scissors.

The disc 92 is fixed to the upper end of a vertical shaft 81 which is journalled in the bracket 94 and at its lower end has a laterally outstanding arm |00 fixed thereto. Said arm is pivotally connected to one end of a link |02, see especially Fig. 4, the other end of which is connected by an adjustable connection |04 to a connecting rod |86. Theremote end of `said connecting rod is pivotally connected to a cam lever |88 pivoted to a suitable standard H0. Said cam lever intermediate its ends is provided with a cam roller ||4 which rides upon a cam ||6 xed to a shaft ||8 rotatable conjointly with the aforesaid cam shaft 52 so that the opening and closing of the scissors is carried out in timed relation with the movements of the slide plate 38, the scissors being closed and opened at the time the slide plate is stationary momentarily in its lowermost position. A retractile spring ||2 is connected with said cam lever |88 and serves to hold the cam roller ||4 constantly engaged with the cam H6. The adjustment of the position of the rod 82 in' the bracket of the slide plate is such that the scissor blades are allowed to rest upon the top of the end cap, there being such freedom of axial movement between the rod 84 and the bracket as to permit this positioning of the scissors. Thus the projecting ends 30a of the fuse links of the successively presented fuses are trimmed off to the same length.

The fuses then pass to a mechanism which presses or bends over the trimmed ends of the link into the cups 32 of the end caps. Said pressing mechanism, see especially Figs. l and '7, comprises a plunger |20 vertically movable in the shelf 88 of the bracket 64 and having at its lower end an enlarged head |22 formed with a reduced link engaging face |24. The compression spring |26 encircles said plunger between the head and the underside of the shelf and tends to urge the plunger constantly for movement in a downward direction. A collar |28 encircles the projecting upper end of the plunger and overlies the shelf and is secured adjustably in set position by means including a lock nut |38. The collar and lock nut can be adjusted to raise and lower the plunger with respect to the fuse. plunger is not much smaller in diameter than the diameter of the recess 32 in the end capof the fuse. The plungerv inits downward movement engages the trimmed end of the fuse link and by reason of its fulcrum engagement with the edge of the hole 34 of the end cap bends the link-end over at substantially right angles to the body of the fuse and against the bottom face of the recess as illustrated in Fig. 6. Thev plunger can yield in engagement with the fuse to permit continued downward movement of the slide plate and also for the purpose of taking care of small The link Aengaging face |24 of the irregularities in over-all lengths of the successive fuses. The spring pressure exertedA by the plungerk upon the uppermost end 'capalso serves to move- 1the enell caplidownwardly upon the'end of theftubulair casing of the fuse ifv the -endcap is not'seate'd thereupon Ais free ffor such movement under the^-pressure of the spring 1221s.

`ilhe operation of the plunger in seating the upperendcaps upon the casi-ng is lnot entirely relied upon, however, and additional mechanism isprovifded for this purpose. Said mechanism includes a vertical 1rod y|31 which is screw-threaded adiiustably 'intothev snel-'f =68-and is locked in any' adjusted position therein by a lock nut |132.

- Said rod is disposedinsaid shelf inv position to overlie a fuse- 'at the'time it is stationary. The rodi is'provided at its lower -end with an enlarged end 1,311 `which fis adaptedto engage the 'end Jcap of theY successive "fuses aftfer they have passed one station beyond v'the link bending station and press all'the end caps downwardly into the same piane so that the tops of 'the ferrules of all fuses aref'always in the same relation.

(Iicl-aimzg y Electric tusejrna-king mechanism comprising anadvanceable Lcarrier having a plurality oi fuse holders advanceable therewith each `adapted to-hold aifuse having a fuse Alink one'end of which is 'fixed to thel fusel and the other `end of which is extended outwardly beyond the end cap, and stati'onarily-loca'ftedl trimming mechanism including'a pair yoff cooperating trimming elements automatically operative '1i-pontile' succession of fuses! in said 4holders advanced to the action of sadjlements 'for trimming the projecting ends of the links. V

2.' Electric fuse making mechanism comprising' an advanceable carrier having a plurality of fuse `holders- -e'ach adapted to carry a fuse havinga fuse link 'projecting outwardly thereof, means tor trimming ol part of the projecting link, an anvil upon which the bottoms o'f the fuses rest, and mechanism automatically operative'upon thesuccesson of fuses` on sai-d anvil for bending 'tl-1etrimmed yends of the fuse link of Vthe successive fuses down upon the ends 'of the fuses; f

Bi'lllectric lfuse making mechanism comprisinganv advanceable carrier having a plprality of fusey holders each adapted to contain* an electric fuseA having al projecting lfuse link, means for trimming olf' the excessive lengths of projecting ends; l and mechanism automatically operative upon'th'e'successionof fuses insaid holders having' means engageable with the opposite 'ends 'of the" fuses and applying endwise pressure thereto.

Electricv fuse` making mechanism comprising an advanceablei carrier having a plurality of holders adapted to contain fuses in parallel relationhavingv projecting fuse links', each fuse comprising an. enclosing casing vand end caps thereon, mechanism: automatically operative upon thesuccessio-nI of fuses in said carrier for applyingendwise pressure upon the similar end caps of' thefuses forY positioningy them all in approximately the same plane, and means for trimming the projecting' fuse links.

5*. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising an advanceable carrier having a plurality of .fuse holders each adapted to contain'a fuse having a fuse link extended Abeyond the end thereof', link trinnning mechanism advanceable Y into' andretractible from operative relation with thel ends of they fuselinkaand means for operatingsaid'trimming mechanism when it is in advanced' position.

f6. Electric fuse making mechanism comprisin-g fan' Aad'v-a,-'r1ceable vcarrier having a plurality of fuse holders each adapted to contain an electric fuse having a 'f-use the end ofV which is 'extended beyond the end of the fuse, trimming mechanism for cutting ofi excessive projecting lengths Aof the fuse links. including scissors, means4 for 'reciprocating said scissors toward and away from the link, and means for operating said scissors to sever the link.

'7. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising -rneansv loradvancin'g into and out of link trimming position a succession of fuses having fuse links projecting from the Iends of the fuses, and trimming mechanism comprising a scissors support 'reciprocable toward and away from the iuse links, scissors pivotally mounted upon said support in position to receive the fuse links between them, and means for operating said scissors lto-sever the end of the link.

y'8. Electric jfuse making mechanism comprising means'for advancing a succession of electric fuses having vlinks projecting from the ends thereof into and out of a trimming position, and trimming mechanism for the fuse links comprising a scissors, means for moving the scissors toward and upon the ends of the fuse with the projecting fuse link therebetween and also moving said scissorsY away from the fuse, and means for operating said scissors when it is upon the end of 'the' fuse.

9. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising means :for advancing a succession of fuses having fuse links projecting from the ends thereof into andout of a link trimming position, and mechanism for trimming the links comprising a member reciprocable toward-fand away from the end of the fuse, a rod carried by' and movable with said support and also movable longitudinally in said support, scissors pivotally carried by said rod and movable therewith, and means for operating saidV scissors.

10. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising means for advancing a succession of fuses having fuselinksprojecting from the ends thereof into andout -of a linkrtrmming position, and link tri-InnungY mechanism comprising a member reciprocable toward and away from the end of the fuse, a rod carried by and movable with said reciprocating member and also movable longitudinally .in said member, said rod'being substantially parallel with the fuse, and a pair of pivotally connected scissors carried by the end of and extended transversely of` said rod and movable therewith into and out of operative position with the fuse link, and means for operating said scissors.

11. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising means for advancing a succession of verticalv fuses each having a fuse link projecting from the end thereof into and out of link trimming position, and link trimming mechanismcomprising a vertically reciprocable carrier, a rod movable with said carrier and also movable longitudinally in said carrier., a Al'ior-izontally disposed pair of scissors having a center pivot .fixed to the lower end of said rod, said scissors being reciprocable by said carrier into-and out of operative position with the projecting fuse link, and means for operatingsaid scissors.

1'2. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising meansfor advancing a succession of vertical iusesinto and'out of link trimming position, each 'fuse having a link projecting from the upper end thereof; and link trimming mechanism comprising a horizontal Vpair of scissors disposed above said fuses, means, for reciprocating said scissors vertically toward and away from the successive fuses, and means for operating said scissors when they are in lowered and operative position.

13. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising means for advancing a succession of fuses each having a fuse link projecting from the end thereof into and out of a link trimming position, and link trimming mechanism comprising scissors, means for reciprocating the scissors into and out of operative position with the link, said scissors having handles, and means engageable with both of said handles for opening and closing said scissors.

14.l Electric iuse making mechanism comprising means for advancing a succession' of fuses each havinga fuse link projecting from the end thereof into and out of a link trimming position, link trimming mechanism comprising scissors, means for reciprocating the scissors into and out of operative position with the link, said scissors having handles, means engageable with both of said handles for opening and closing said scissors, said means including an oscillable disc having diametrically opposed pins between which and in engagement with which said handles are disposed, and means for oscillating said disc.

l5. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising means for advancing a succession oi fuses each having a fuse link projecting from the end thereof into and out of a link trimming position, link trimming mechanism comprising scissors, means for reciprocating the scissors into and out of operative position with the link, said scissors having handles, means engageable with both or said handles for opening and closing said scissors, said means including an oscillable disc having diametrically opposed pins between which and in engagement with which said handles are disposed, and means for oscillating said disc, said pins being or suiiicient length to maintain engagement with said handles during the reciprocatory movements of said scissors.

16. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising a stationary anvil, means including fuse-grippers having frictional gripping engagement with the fuses for advancing over said anvil a succession of fuses each having a fuse link projecting from the upper end of the fuse, means operative upon the successive fuses to trim off excessive projecting lengths of links, and reciprocating means operative endwise upon the successive fuses for bending over the outer ends of the trimmed links when the fuses are on said anvil.

1'7. Electric fuse making mechanism compris-- ing means for advancing a succession of fuses each having a fuse link projecting from the fusey into and out of a link bending position, and means for bending sidewise the ends of the links of the successive fuses including a plunger, a yielding sup-port therefor, and means for reciprocating the plunger into and out of yielding pressure engagement with the links of the successive fuses.

18. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising means for advancing a succession of fuses each having a fuse link projecting from the fuse into and out of a link bending position, means for bending over the links of the successive fuses including a plunger carrier reciprocable toward and away from the fuses, and a plunger carried by said carrier and movable therewith into and out of engagement with the links of the fuses, said plunger having a yielding engagement with said carrier which permits said plunger to yield in engagement with the fuse.

19. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising means for advancing a succession of fuses each having a fuse link projecting from the fuse into and out of a link bending position, means for bending over the ends of the links of the successive fuses including a plunger support reciprocable toward and away from the fuses, a plunger carried by said support and movable therein, and spring means acting on said plunger to maintain it yieldingly in outermost position, said spring means adapted to yield to permit movement of said support independently of said plunger when the plunger is in engagement with a fuse.

20. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising an anvil, means for advancing a succession of vertically disposed fuses into and out of link bending position on said anvil, said fuses each having a link projecting from the upper end thereof, and means for bending over the projecting ends of the links comprising a plunger support, means guiding said support for vertical movement, means for reciprocating said support, and a plunger carried by and movable with said support and disposed in vertical line with a fuse on said anvil and movable with said support into and out of engagement with the end of the fuse link.

21. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising an anvil, means for advancing a succession of vertically disposed fuses into and out of link bending position on said anvil, said fuses each having a link projecting from the upper end thereof, means for bending over the projecting ends of the links comprising a plunger support, means guiding said support for vertical movement, means for reciprocating said support, a plunger carried by and movable with said support and disposed in vertical line with a fuse on said anvil and movable with said support into and out of engagement with the end of the fuse link, and yielding means for mounting said plunger on said support, said yielding means adapted to yield when said plunger is in engagement with the fuse.

22. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising an anvil, means for advancing a succession of vertical electric fuses with their lower ends upon said anvil, each of said fuses comprising a casing and end caps on the ends of the casings, and means for fixing the over-all lengths of the fuses including a member movable toward and away from the free end of the fuse on the anvil and for applying endwise pressure thereto, and means for reciprocating said member into and out of a deiinite position with respect to said anvil whereby to compress the over-all length of the fuse between it and said anvil.

23. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising means for advancing a succession of fuses progressively into and out of a succession of operative positions, link trimming mechanism located at one position and including a pair of scissors reciprocable toward and away from the end of the fuse, and link bending mechanism for bending over the trimmed ends oi the fuse links, ra common carrier for said trimming and bending mechanism, and means for reciprocating said carrier.

24. Electric fuse making mechanism comprising means for advancing a succession of fuses successively into a plurality of operative positions, trimming mechanism located at one position operative for trimming oii the projecting ends of the fuses, bending mechanism located at another operative position for bending over the trimmed ends of the fuse link, and length adjusting mechanism disposed at a third operative position, a common carrier for said trimming, bending and length adjusting mechanisms, and means for reciprocating said carrier to reciprocate said mechanisms toward and away from the fuses.

25.k Electric Vfuse making mechanism comprising means for advancing asuccession of fuses progressively into and out of a succession of operative positions, link trimming mechanism located at one position, link bending mechanism for bending over the trimmed ends of the fuse, and means for operating said trimming and bending mechanism in timed relation with movements of said fuse advancing means.

ELMER H. TAYLOR. 

